Many people are turning to sustainable ways of generating energy. One of these sustainable energy measures is the installation of solar panels so that green electricity can be used in the household. However, solar panels are an expensive investment, which may make you wonder: How many solar panels will fit on my roof? And how many solar panels do I need right now? In this article, you will find answers to these questions and more. Read the blog on the 0% VAT measures to discover ways you can reduce the cost of solar panel installation.
How many panels do you want?
How many solar panels you need depends on whether you want to be partially or completely independent of the electricity grid. For this you need insight into how much electricity your household consumes annually. On average, a Dutch household has enough with ten solar panels, but if you want to know for your specific situation, you can easily calculate this. You need to know how much power you need per year, what the efficiency is per solar panel and what the average weather conditions are in the Netherlands. In autumn and winter, solar panels will logically generate less power than in summer. Read more about solar panel output in the fall here. Then use the formula: annual power consumption/ (efficiency x correct).
What things to take into account?
You will probably be able to figure out the surface area of your roof. How many solar panels will fit on this surface area depends on several aspects. Therefore, pay attention to these points in your calculation:
- If you have a sloping roof, allow for a margin of half a meter from the eaves.
- If you have a flat roof, then allow a margin of one meter from the eaves.
- Shading on the roof from things like mounting systems, dormers or chimneys or from things like trees or other roofs.
How many solar panels will fit on my pitched roof?
Once you know how many panels you need, you need to calculate whether this number will fit on your sloping roof. You can find this out with the how many solar panels will fit on my roof calculator. This is actually a simple calculation of the area of your roof in square meters divided by the size of a solar panel in square meters. On a sloping roof you can fit more panels than on a flat roof, because you only have to take into account a margin of 0.5 meters from the edge. Moreover, the solar panels are placed flat on the roof, so no distance between your panels is needed. Do keep in mind other obstacles, such as chimneys or a dormer.
How many solar panels will fit on my flat roof?
Different rules apply to a flat roof than to a pitched roof. First, you have a larger margin from the edge of the roof, but the mounting system on a flat roof also requires you to take shading into account. This must be avoided and therefore you must leave some space (about 70 centimeters) between the rows of panels. Also consider the arrangement of the panels and the corresponding angle of inclination. There are also some good online how many solar panels fit on my roof – calculators, such as the one from Milieu Centraal.
To avoid mistakes, The Sustainable Boys are happy to help you with this complicated calculation. Schedule a consultation via this page and we will give you helpful tips for obtaining your desired amount of solar panels. Want to know more about solar panel dimensions? You can read it here!
